
The home of Archway Jiu-Jitsu club
Current Location: ArchwayJitsu.com / About Jiu-Jitsu / Philosophy
 
 
Philosophy
 
The philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu is to be able to defend against any type of
attack, in any situation, choosing a response that suits the circumstances.
Strength isn't necessary since Jiu-Jitsu relies on knowing the vulnerable
areas of opponents' bodies and on using their strength and energy against
them.
 
Jiu-Jitsu offers a range of techniques that allow a response varying from
gentle but firm dissuasion to inflicting serious injury. There is no need to punch
someone just for grabbing your wrist; it is better to just escape the grab and then
find out what they wanted. However, if you are attacked with a knife then you need to be able to
disarm and restrain your attacker while avoiding injury.
 
Jiu-Jitsu also focuses on practical techniques. High kicks involving leaping might look good,
but if you're wearing normal clothing, you're in a pub or standing on a slippery surface, chances are you'll
end up falling over. We also don't teach breaking techniques — bricks and boards don't move or fight
back and why learn how to punch and kick hard enough to break wood when a
relatively gentle strike, aimed at a vulnerable area, will cause as much or even
more damage?
 
This approach gives Jiu-Jitsu an individual training style. Many of our
techniques can be painful or dangerous if applied for real, particularly if the
recipient is untrained. As a result, Jiu-Jitsu practice is co-operative.
Rather than sparring, in which two martial artists face off and try to beat the
other, Jitsuka allow their partners
to apply techniques to them, confident that full power and speed won't be used
and injure them.